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America's Most Desperate Landscape 2014: Before and After Pictures

We asked you, our readers, to help with a landscape makeover by voting on some of the design plans. Thanks for doing an outstanding job. Take a look at the amazing results done by you and the experts at Desperate Landscapes.

Nice People With a Not-So-Nice Yard

Meet Jason and Connie and their dog Mayzee. They own a unique custom-built home on 2-1/2 acres in Texas Hill Country. The yard is big, but before we came along, it was barren in some spots and overgrown in other areas. We completely overhauled their desperate landscape and turned it into a space where Jason, Connie and Mayzee can relax, entertain and run free. Check it out.

Before The Makeover

Before Connie and Jason acquired this place, the house was home to Connie’s father’s construction business and her brother-in-law's contracting business. So the yard was never manicured for family leisure time, it was used to park dump trucks and heavy equipment.

After: New Exterior

Viola! No walls or windows were replaced, but the house looks completely different thanks to a new coat of paint, board-and-batten shutters and a timber-framed pergola over the entry. The lush landscaping makes for a park-like setting. Instead of a water-hungry lawn, drought-tolerant plants and low-maintenance groundcovers were used because they’re more likely to thrive in the hot, dry climate. The tiered fountain lends an elegant Southwestern flair and complements the stucco-surfaced home.

Before: The Gazebo

In the front yard is a covered patio. The neighbors think the double-domed pink structure is hideous, but Connie loves the gazebo and all the shade it provides.

After: New Surroundings

Before we started the makeover, we asked our readers to vote on some of the landscape plans. One of the elements you voted for was the pretty tiered fountain. Good choice. It makes the yard feel like a park or botanical garden.

Before: Just an Uncomfortable Bench

The gazebo has an interesting story. Connie’s dad knew some masonry workers who were hired to build the structures at a San Antonio library. They needed a place to practice their work, so Connie’s father offered up his property. Inside the domes, the ceiling is lined with intricate brickwork, similar to that used by the Mexican brick culture of the Rio Grande Valley.

After: Home Away From Home

The gazebo has become a beautiful outdoor kitchen, living and dining room. The floor was lined with square patio pavers (which you voted for). Up above, wrought-iron candle chandeliers cast light down on the wicker furniture (which you also voted for). In the background sits the new fireplace and pizza oven.

Before: Not Too Inviting

The front entry is a little less than welcoming. The grass is almost as brown as the wood beams while the mixed-match concrete and patio pavers makes for a dangerous trip hazard.

After: Draws You Right In

Two of the design choices you voted for were the paint color for the door and the new house numbers. Nice work. The Spanish-red door is a perfect accompaniment to the soft adobe-colored stucco and mahogany-stained pergola. The modern font used for the house numbers gives the entry a contemporary vibe.

Before: What is This Spot Used For?

Connie and Jason are world travelers who have worked their way through many countries. They spent a summer on a farm in New Zealand, taught English in Austria and Korea and ran a canoe sightseeing business in Prague. They’ve seen some of the most beautiful gardens in the world and would love to bring a little bit of that beauty into their own yard.

After: Nice Spot for Morning Coffee

The old dilapidated patio cover was removed and replaced with a line of palms, a welcoming walkway and a turquoise cafe set.